The … Read Full Bio ↴Rhoda Scott (b. ca. 1939) is an African-American Jazz organist.
The daughter of an AME minister, Scott spent much of her childhood in New Jersey, where she learned to play organ in the churches where her father served. Soon she herself was serving frequently as organist for youth and gospel choirs at her father's and other churches. Scott later studied classical piano, but she concentrated on the organ, eventually earning a Masters' degree in music theory from the Manhattan School of Music. By this time she had been asked by a choir member to fill in with a small band as a jazz pianist. Enjoying the music, she agreed to stay on with the band on condition that she be allowed to play organ instead of piano. Choosing as her instrument the Hammond Organ, she soon became a preeminent jazz musician.
Scott was first attracted to the organ in her father’s church at age seven. "It's really the most beautiful instrument in the world," she stated in a recent interview. "The first thing I did was take my shoes off and work the pedals."[1] From then on she always played her church organ in her bare feet, and to this date she has continued the practice, earning her nicknames such as "The Barefoot Lady" and "The Barefoot Contessa." Following her lead, many other performers of popular organ music now also play barefoot. Because of her church training, however, Scott uses the pedals to play a genuine bass line, unlike many other jazz organists, which allows her to use her left hand for more elaborate chord work.[2] The resulting music is an energetic fusion of musical styles that partakes of jazz, gospel, and classical, reflecting both Scott’s early experience and her formal training.
In 1967 Scott moved to France, where she has since spent most of her career and earned recognition far greater than that accorded to her in the United States, though she often performs in the latter country as well.
People
Rhoda Scott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People who need people,
Are the luckiest people in the world
We're children, needing other children
And yet letting a grown-up pride
Hide all the need inside
Acting more like children than children
Lovers are very special people
With one person one very special person
A feeling deep in your soul
Says you were half now you're whole
No more hunger and thirst
But first be a person who needs people
People who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world
With one person one very special person
A feeling deep in your soul
Says you were half now you're whole
No more hunger and thirst
But first be a person who needs people
People who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world
The song "People" by Rhoda Scott celebrates the importance of human connection and relationships in our lives. The opening lines declare that people who need people are the luckiest people in the world. This suggests that our dependence on one another is not a weakness, but rather a source of strength and happiness. As human beings, we all have a fundamental need for connection, and this need is essential to our wellbeing. The lyrics go on to describe how we are all like children in our need for one another, but often hide this need behind a mask of grown-up pride.
Line by Line Meaning
People,
The very essence of human existence.
People who need people,
Human beings require other human beings for social and emotional support.
Are the luckiest people in the world
Those who have the privilege of experiencing genuine connections with others are incredibly fortunate.
We're children, needing other children
We are all vulnerable and needy, regardless of age or status; we all require the help of others.
And yet letting a grown-up pride
Despite our inherent neediness, we often try to hide it behind a veneer of maturity.
Hide all the need inside
We often keep our true emotions and desires hidden from others, which can lead to isolation and loneliness.
Acting more like children than children
Ironically, when we try to suppress our vulnerability, we end up displaying childish behavior.
Lovers are very special people
Those who share a deep, romantic connection have a unique bond that is not often found in other relationships.
They're the luckiest people in the world
Those who experience true love are among the most blessed individuals in existence.
With one person one very special person
True love is often characterized by a deep, unwavering commitment to one particular person.
A feeling deep in your soul
Love is not just a surface-level emotion, but something that runs much deeper, connecting with the very essence of our beings.
Says you were half now you're whole
When we find true love, we often feel as if we have finally discovered the missing piece that completes us.
No more hunger and thirst
Love satisfies the most basic emotional needs that we all possess.
But first be a person who needs people
Before we can truly experience love and connection, we must first acknowledge our own neediness and vulnerability.
People who need people
We cannot thrive or survive without healthy, supportive connections with others.
Are the luckiest people in the world
True interpersonal connection and community is something that should be deeply valued and cherished.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bob Merrill, Jule Styne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind